With the new band changes, I've been asked what band would be good for someone starting out in CW, to listen to for practice and future use. I'm using MFJ-9040 and Spi-ro antenna. I'm partial to 40 meters, but there is a lot of traffic there, but at least you're not lonely. I had a (no clue) Tech friend over and he said, "how in the world can you hear thru all that, I'd love to learn and use code, but that's just too noisy".

I tried to explain that listening and practice builds QRM blinders, but I don't think I came over to well, I got the RCA dog look. What do you think would be the best band for Techs looking into a single band transceiver that would give best all around contacts and less QRM on good propagation days. Please say 40 meters. I got him on the hook let's set it.

I always thought of 40 meters being the best band for starting out and for the long term. Those short wave stations out there sure make it a challenge in the evenings but during the day it is a great band for ragchewing.

During the winter, 80 is a generally a good band in the evening. When the going gets rough on 40, I'll slip on down to 80.

Get the 40 single bander first. Then later (by next winter maybe?) get the 80 single bander. Sounds like a ton of fun to me!

I am curious about the antenna KD5ENR says he uses-the Spi-Rho antenna. I had one [10 thru 40] and it seemed to work fairly well, but I did have some complaints, so I switched to a AD antenna - 80 thru 10, and am using that now-I keep the SpiRo for portable use. but I am curious about his experience with it, and whether that ham still has it.

Forty meters around 7.112 to 7.118 is a great window for slower code and easy-going conditions, now that most International Shortwave Stations have moved away.

Also, 30 meters could be a really good idea at certain times of the day. Especially with summer seasons.

Toward the Autumn of 2010, and for the following four years, fifteen and ten meters will offer great opportunities, too. The 10.7-cm flux just rose to 93, today, for the first time in this new Sunspot Cycle 24. We will see this rise throughout 2010, and we're in for great propagation on the higher frequencies within another year.